Team Philippines was one huge family in the SEA Games 2025 Thailand with a 1,600-strong delegation.
And we're not just talking about teams here. From husband and wife, to brothers and sisters, as well as father and daughter, the biennial meet turned into a family affair.
And can we just say, it's a winning tradition.
There's the golden sister duo of Naomi and Malea Cesar--both making history at the SEA Games.
There's the father-daughter medalist tandem of Richard and Juliana Gomez, making strides for Ormoc.
The sister trio of Samantha, Jannah, and Sophia are creating a powerhouse for Philippine fencing.
The brother-sister duos of BJ and Danielle Imperial as well as Kenwrick and Kimberly Sze set the path for Philippine ice hockey.
The husband-and-wife pair of Dwight and Mabel del Rosario, along with the brothers Santino and Vito Luzuriaga fight each other and fight together in jiu-jitsu.
Plus there's Jun and Enzo Pontino, making waves in jetski while remembering to honor their roots.
[ALSO READ: SEA Games herstory: Filipina gold medalists who broke new grounds, established dominance]
Here are the stories of some family members who competed together and won together at SEA Games 2025.
Golden sisters: Naomi and Malea Cesar (Athletics, football)
The 16-year-old Naomi Cesar made athletics history at SEA Games 2025 for the Philippines by ending Vietnam's winning streak in the 800m sprint.
And she did so with the influence of her father, former national team athlete Ben Cesar.
"To follow in my dad’s footsteps because he competed for the Philippines in the SEA Games, and my sister now competing for the Philippines so, it’s a huge honor and I’m so grateful," Naomi told Cignal after winning gold.
It got extra special for the Cesar family the next day, as Malea won a historic gold medal with the Philippine women's national football team--beating Vietnam in the final.
It's the first-ever SEA Games football gold for the Philippines.
"It's not something that we really talked about but we both knew that it was a possibility," Malea said to the POC Media. "So we visualized it for ourselves, we visualized it for each other and we both knew we were cheering each other on."
[ALSO READ: SEA Games: Filipinas’ Malea Cesar relishes winning gold with trackster sibling Naomi]
Gomez Family Values: Richard and Juliana Gomez (Shooting, fencing)
Leyte Congressman Richard Gomez has competed in five SEA Games as an epee fencer and as a trap and skeet shooter. He won two golds in the team epee event.
That was over two decades ago.
Now he made his comeback when the sporting clay event was introduced for shotgun.
He, Carlo Baltonado, Joaquin Ancheta, and Jed Rivilla clinched silver in the inaugural event.
"It's kind of different. Targets are moving. It takes a different skill, different training. You're simulating hunting conditions. You're walking, you're presented with different birds. Iba-iba yung flight niya, iba-iba yung distance niya. It's like hunting. Instead of shooting real animals, you're just shooting at clays," he told One Sports after the event.
He even got a boost when his wife, Ormoc Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, surprised him with a visit at the competition venue.
"Parang ako pa 'yung kinabahan eh! Aguy, ayan si Lucy. Parang nung dumating siya, gumanda mga tira ko. Makita mo, straight talaga," he shared.
@onesportsphl Lucy Torres-Gomez visits Richard Gomez at SEA Games 2025 Thailand sporting clay team final | #OSOnTheSpot LOVE ON TARGET 🎯 A heartwarming moment unfolds at the SEA Games 2025 Thailand as Lucy Torres-Gomez drops by to support husband Richard Gomez during the sporting clay team final, fresh from celebrating her birthday on December 11. | via Katrina Alba/One Sports #OSOnTheSpot #2025SEAGames #SEAGames #TibayAtTatag #SEAGames33 #SEAGamesThailand #SEAGames2025
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The trio of Gomez, Baltonado, and Ancheta returned a few days later and clinched bronze in the compak sporting team finals.
There was another reason why Goma wanted to compete in this particular SEA Games. It would be his daughter Juliana's first SEAG as a fencer.
"We talk about training, about mental conditioning. We talk about how to prepare ourselves," Gomez shared. "Family members should be there to be helping each other."
Despite being a fencer himself, Richard admitted it was tougher just being a spectator. His wife Lucy admitted the same.
"When I think of Richard and Juliana competing, I'm just a spectator, but parang mas nervous pa ko kaysa sa kanila. I don't think I can ever be an athlete. So, I just cover them in prayer and wish them the best. And I always just pray, Juliana especially, to just enjoy the journey and the experience," she shared.
"Minsan napapasigaw ako," Richard admitted. "Pero sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But sabi ko, you have to learn from that."
"'Pag ako yung athlete, mako-control ko yung nerves ko... pero 'pag andun ka [as a parent], wala kang magawa eh. Hanggang sigaw ka ng 'let's go, let's go!' That's what it is."
The younger Gomez though got it tough, bowing out of the women's individual epee round of 16 against Malaysia.
"Oh, I'm disappointed. Disappointed is an understatement, honestly. I wanted to win for the country. I wanted to do better. Not much I can say. It was a bad game on my part. I take full accountability. I have so much more to learn. I have to learn from this," Juliana shared to One Sports.
"Sabi ko sa kanya, isipin mo, pag-aralan mo yung mga points na tinamahan ka. Alam mo kung paano ka natalo. Kasi yun yung chance mo to think, and then pag-aralan natin ulit yun," Richard shared. "And then para next time mangyari yan, alam mo lang kung anong gagawin mo."
And she did bounce back a few days later, clinching bronze in the women's team epee by beating Indonesia before bowing to Singapore.
She's lucky to have an athlete like Richard as a father, she admits.
"It's also having a role model at home who understands everything that it takes to perform at this level. I feel like I'm very, very lucky to have that in our household," Juliana shared.
"He knows when to be a dad. And he knows when it's time to let my coach do the coaching. He never acts as my coach. Instead, he always acts as my soundboard. As someone who's there to process wins and losses with me. Someone to celebrate with. Someone to go over film with."
"So I don't think we explicitly say, this is where we draw the line. We just know."
Sisters on point: Samantha, Janna, and Sophia Catantan (Fencing)
Samantha and Janna experienced similar paths in the women's individual foil event of SEA Games 2025.
Both received a bye in the round of 16. Samantha won the quarterfinals against Thailand, 15-4. Janna won her QF against Malaysia, 15-8.
Both fell in the semis against Singaporean foes, Janna bowing 8-15, and Samantha 14-15.
"We're very grateful and we feel very blessed po. It's such a surreal feeling na dalawa kami nandito ngayon and pareho kaming bronze. I'm very proud of her, more than anything," the 23-year-old Paris Olympian said of her 22-year-old sister.
It wasn't easy for Sam, as she was out for 12 months since the Olympics due to recovery and rehabilitation. But she's looking at the results in a very mature way.
"Today, I was very proud with the way I fenced. Sayang lang po, I lost by one touch. Pero, for the most part, it's not always about the result. And I'm very proud po with the way I fenced," she said.
@onesportsphl “IT’S SUCH A SURREAL NA FEELING NA DALAWA KAMING NANDITO NGAYON.” Samantha Catantan and her sister Janna proudly represented the Philippines together, each winning a bronze medal in the fencing event of SEA Games 2025 Thailand. | via Julia Vargas/Cignal #2025SEAGames #SEAGames #TibayAtTatag #SEAGames33 #SEAGamesThailand #SEAGames2025
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There will always be more competitions. Just ask Janna, who competed in her first individual event.
"Honestly, sa competition po na yun, I wasn't very satisfied with my performance. Although at some point nandun naman po na parang nakita ko na may progress, but I can see na parang may kulang," she shared. "Well, I would say na this is a very good start. This is just a good start of a very long journey."
"There will be upcoming competitions and Atletang Ayala is there supporting me and my other teammates. So maraming po po akong competition na masasalihan."
That just about came true a couple of days later.
Samantha and Janna, along with younger sister Sophia, as well as Gabrielle Gebala, outscored Thailand by one in the women's team foil semifinals, 41-40.
They ultimately bowed to Singapore, 45-31. But it was good enough for silver.
"My first-ever SEA Games, and what a journey it has been! Being on the same team with my sisters was such an unforgettable experience, and I’m truly grateful for every moment we shared along the way. Bringing home a silver medal together for the Philippines is something I’ll always be proud of," Sophia wrote on Instagram.
"For the first time ever, three Catantans competing together as a team. Fencing with you two is worth more than any medal!! This is just the beginning of many more to come," Samantha added.
Trailblazing brothers and sisters on ice: BJ and Danielle Imperial, Kenwrick and Kimberly Sze (Ice hockey)
For the first time, siblings Danielle and BJ Imperial competed in the SEA Games together.
The men's ice hockey team has been here before, ruling the inaugural event in 2017 and then getting bronze in 2019.
For the women though, it's the first time they competed in the biennial event.
"I think it makes the SEA Games really special that I get to share with my sister. Obviously, she's been one of the biggest supporters of the men's team," BJ told One Sports.
"If you look back like 2017, she's always been there supporting us. She handled the media for 2017. She was at every game, she cheered us on, and it's really nice that she finally gets her time to represent the Philippines and feel what we've been feeling this whole time representing the country."
His reminder to his sister? Cherish the moment.
"Well, I guess the only thing that I told her that it's really a moment that she has to cherish. I mean, it doesn't happen very often," said BJ.
"We thought when we participated in 2017, it would be something that we get to enjoy every two years, but it really depends on the host country if they choose to include ice hockey in the events. So, you know, take every opportunity as a special one. Don't take it for granted. I just told her to basically enjoy the moment because she deserved it."
[ALSO READ: Ruling the rink: Imperial siblings relish sharing SEA Games ice for the first time]
"It means a lot to have his support. And to have him comfort me, he's been through all of this and I'm going through it for the first time. So, it's definitely helpful to be able to mentally prepare with him and just, you know, the family's support," Danielle shared to Cignal.
Their efforts paid off as the men retained their bronze medal by beating Singapore, 5-3.
[ALSO READ: SEA Games: Men's ice hockey team excited for new generation after getting bronze anew]
Meanwhile, the women's team fought hard against the host country and got silver in their debut after playing in front of the Queen of Thailand, 4-13.
They're not the only sibling duo in the ice hockey team.
Kenwrick Sze started when he was three years old and influenced his younger sister Kimberly to play. Now they're both SEA Games medalists.
"We're in the SEA Games together, it's a dream. I'm super happy both of us got a medal together," Kenwrick told Cignal. "It's an honor to win a medal for the Philippines."
Ken will continue the dream, as he plays with the Philippine team in the IIHF World Championships, while Kimberly will go to college in Australia.
@onesportsphl EMOTIONS RUN HIGH 🥹 A full circle moment for ice hockey siblings Kenwrick and Kimberly Sze as they both finished with medals in their respective SEA Games 2025 Thailand events. | via Miguel Dypiangco #2025SEAGames #SEAGames #TibayAtTatag #SEAGames33 #SEAGamesThailand #SEAGames2025
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Fighting couple: Dwight and Mabel del Rosario (Jiu-jitsu)
He's in the Army, she's in the Navy. They fight each other, they fight together.
And it works really, really well.
"Sparring kami, no mercy talaga," Dwight told One Sports.
"'Di kami nakakatulog nang di pinag-uusapan 'yung dapat i-correct after training," Mabel shared.
The husband-and-wife duo was part of the Philippine squad which won bronze in the jiu-jitsu mixed team event.
"Mas okay ako sa pakiramdam na kasama ko husband ko sa laro. Sa training kasi, mas kilala niya ako, alam niya pag may sakit ako, pag may alanganin sa gagawin ko. Ang laking tulong na andyan siya para sa'kin, andito ako para sa kanya," she added.
Of course they want a baby, since last year actually. But Mabel shares that she really appreciates how Dwight thinks of her career first.
"Siya rin 'yung nagsabi na 'okay lang, kaya kong maghintay'. Ayaw niyang magkaroon ng what if, 'what ifhindi muna natuloy 'yung career ko?' Sobrang thankful ako sa support," Mabel shared.
Fighting brothers: Santino and Vito Luzuriaga (Jiu-jitsu)
Philippine jiu-jitsu had another pair of fighting family members—the Luzuriaga brothers.
In their SEA Games debut, Vito first got bronze in the men's ne-waza 85kg, winning against Vietnam in the quarterfinals before bowing to Singapore in the semis.
A day later, Santino competed in the 62kg. He won in the quarterfinals against Myanmar, bowed to Thailand in the semis, and bounced back with a 4-0 victory against Malaysia in the bronze medal match.
"We dedicated a lot of the year to be able to be here, very surreal experience for us. All the more to win together, definitely a huge privilege for us," Santino told Cignal.
It was actually a huge sigh of relief for Vito to compete in Thailand as he could barely walk a week before.
"It's really special kasi last week, I got injured during training. I was scared I wouldn't be able to compete, then I was able to show up," Vito said. "After the longest time, we weren't able to train together. We were only able to train together three years ago."
Three guesses how Vito got injured.
"He was sparring with me when he got injured," Santino shared, speaking of their maturity and growth together as siblings. "We'd argue in training, 'why would you be doing that?' We started to mature a bit when we got to train together, we understood what it took to get here."
What started as just a simple physical education class turned into a jiu-jitsu bug for the Luzuriaga brothers. And apparently, there may be more to come.
"We're thrilled two out of our four boys are here to compete," Robby Luzuriaga told Cignal of his sons. His two younger kids are apparently into jiu-jitsu as well. "They're hoping to join the SEA Games in the future."
@onesportsphl BRONZE BROTHERS 🥉🥉 Siblings Santino and Vito Luzuriaga look back on winning bronze together in their SEA Games 2025 Jiu-jitsu debut and share how growing up in the same sport shaped their bond and performance as a whole. | via Doreen Suaybaguio/Cignal #OSOnTheSpot #SEAGames33 #SEAGames2025 #SEAGamesThailand #TibayAtTatag
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Honor for three generations: Lorenzo and Jun Pontino (Jetski)
Jun Pontino is 45. This is his first SEA Games.
Even though he's competing in an individual event, he's really doing with his 19-year-old son, Enzo.
"He was riding the jetski since he was nine years old. May competitive drive," the elder Pontino told Cignal. "Parang usap-usapan lang, balang araw, makakasali ka sa international games and represent the country. Malaking karangalan na makasali sa SEA Games."
And Jun did the work to make himself fit for competition along with his son.
It bore fruit as Enzo won silver in Ski 1500 and bronze in Ski GP.
And Enzo, at his young age, in his first SEA Games, said he wanted the medal finish not for himself.
"I wanted to win for the Philippines, and also for my grandfather who just recently passed," the younger Pontino said. His grandfather passed at the age of 87, the very same number Enzo bannered for the competition.
Enzo's words was enough for his father Jun to break down into tears.
@onesportsphl “I DEDICATE THIS EVENT FOR HIM.” Lorenzo Pontino talks about his fuel to get his two jetski medals—his grandfather, who recently passed away at the age of 87—the number he bannered for this very competition. Beside him is his father, Jun Pontino who broke down in tears upon hearing his son’s answer. | via Denisse Valdesancho/Cignal #SEAGames33 #SEAGames2025 #SEAGamesThailand #TibayAtTatag
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There are a number of Filipinos who would celebrate the gold and discard or even diss the silvers and the bronzes.
But having family members compete with you, and even win medals with you--no matter the color? Priceless.
They are the true winners, and perhaps the foundation of a brighter future for Philippine sports.
(With reports from Luisa Morales, Mei-lin Lozada/One Sports Digital; Bea Escudero, Doreen Suaybaguio, Denisse Valdesancho, Julia Vargas, Reg Lorque, Dyp Dypiangco/Cignal)
Katrina Alba is a sports journalist and producer, notably with SportsCenter Philippines before taking on her current role at One Sports.
She primarily writes about basketball and volleyball, with experience covering the SEA Games, Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup.
Outside of work, her hobbies include running, swimming, pickleball, yoga, arnis, and krav maga.